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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 576/3/865    most recent jphysiol.2006.118232v1 Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Klein, R. C. Articles by Yakel, J. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Klein, R. C. Articles by Yakel, J. L. Related Collections Neuroscience

¹ Laboratory of Neurobiology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, NIH, DHHS, PO Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA

Multiple subtypes of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are expressed in the CNS. The amygdala complex, the limbic structure important for emotional memory formation, receives cholinergic innervation from the basal forebrain. Although cholinergic drugs have been shown to regulate passive avoidance performance via the amygdala, the neuronal subtypes and circuits involved in this regulation are unknown. In the present study, whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques were used to identify and characterize the presence of functional somato-dendritic nAChRs within the basolateral complex of the amygdala. Pressure-application of acetylcholine (ACh; 2 mM) evoked inward current responses in a subset of neurons from both the lateral (49%) and basolateral nuclei (72%). All responses displayed rapid activation kinetics, and were blocked by the 7-selective antagonist methyllycaconitine. In addition, the 7-selective agonist choline induced inward current responses that were similar to ACh-evoked responses. Spiking patterns were consistent with pyramidal class I neurons (the major neuronal type in the basolateral complex); however, there was no correlation between firing frequency and the response to ACh. The local photolysis of caged carbachol demonstrated that the functional expression of nAChRs is located both on the soma and dendrites. This is the first report demonstrating the presence of functional nAChR-mediated current responses from rat amygdala slices, where they may be playing a significant role in fear and aversively motivated memory.

(Received 28 July 2006; accepted after revision 23 August 2006; first published online 24 August 2006)
Corresponding author J. L. Yakel: NIEHS, F2-08, PO Box 12233, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. Email: yakel{at}niehs.nih.gov

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